SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025

NOTE FROM MARK
What a powerful fall it has been around Neighborhood Church. In October, we finished our 8th season of the Farmers Market,  had a great weekend of Global Encounters with Aaron serving in France, a fun Fall Festival and are just wrapping up our Fall Neighborhood Groups and sermon series, “Masterpiece,” based on the book, “What You Do Best.” On top of this, Neighborhood Kids and Neighborhood Youth are seeing children and teens learning and growing in their faith. I am hearing lots of people processing, laughing, struggling and leaning into who they are and how to live this out. I am praying for God to continue this stirring.

I am also aware of the ongoing struggles in individuals and families, the government shutdown, fear permeating our immigrant communities, and instability in our country and world. Friends, as I heard Ed Stetzer say this past week, “we are in disrupted, precarious and opportune times”. I believe, in these times is where we need to hold on tighter to Jesus, the power of the gospel, and lean into relationships with one another. This is not a time to retreat to the shadows, build walls and fortresses, but a time to open our hearts and doors to a world that is looking for love, care, and justice. This will take a faith-filled risk to step out and see how God will meet you and others through you, in the midst of a world in need of good news.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NOVEMBER 30, 9AM & 10:30AM

NOVEMBER 30, 12:30PM

DECEMBER 7, 9AM & 10:30AM

MINISTRIES

NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS
Leader: Karin Sauder, [email protected]
A safe place for children to meet Jesus, know Jesus & learn to share Jesus.

SEPTEMBER:
It has been a busy start to the school year at Neighborhood Kids! Our Kid’s Tent at the market this month was a great success, thanks to Nurten Karasen, Sarah Luse, and Serat and Seyei Jack, who graciously volunteered.  We also enjoyed a great Fall Launch, with a commissioning of our Neighborhood Kids teachers for the coming year, and a well-deserved Volunteer Appreciation Brunch. We were so excited to have our first Neighborhood Kids Missions Giving Sunday, to highlight Inca Link and Project P7.8 in Ecuador. The kids gave a presentation and collected a “Clink Bucket” offering. (The final amount collected is pending!) We are looking forward to a fun and busy fall season!

OCTOBER:
We had a busy month at Neighborhood Kids! Our last Kids Tent at the Farmer’s Market was this month. Thank you to the Vannella Family for volunteering for this! We also had our Global Encounters Weekend, with lots of kids at our Feast of Nations learning about the missionaries we support in France. Of course, our International Parade to cap things off was lively and colorful! The Fall Festival was another success, with a few hundred people from our church and community enjoying the beautiful weather and fun activities. Thanks to all the volunteers who made time to come out and bless our neighbors; very special thanks to the Mein family for providing our amazing petting zoo. It was a great day. We had a wonderful Baby Shower for Mike and Olivia Berryhill as well; our newest Neighborhood Kid is due around Thanksgiving and we are so excited.  And finally, we want to give a warm welcome to our newest Neighborhood Kids volunteer, Dawn Mein. Dawn will be working mainly with our Tiny Kids, and we are very glad to have her on board! 



NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH
Leader: Eric Peacock, [email protected]
A place where teens belong, believe (in Jesus) and become (all that God has intended for them to be).

SEPTEMBER:
This month, Neighborhood Youth continued our Influence(r) series, where we explored topics on Influence, Algorithms (of the mind and heart), Identity, and Friendships. We drew parallels between how social media and streaming platforms operate and how we function in everyday life—highlighting the subtle ways they can influence us both directly and indirectly.

After worship, we lean into a time of teaching that includes discussion questions at the end of each lesson, followed by small-group conversations to help students process and apply what they learned.

Looking Ahead: In October, we’ll be heading to Butler’s Orchard for a time of fun and fellowship. Looking further ahead, we’re preparing community outreach opportunities for the youth to participate in—projected to begin in November and continue through December and beyond.

OCTOBER:
This month, Neighborhood Youth concluded our series on Trending, where we explored topics on faith, popularity, living authentically for Jesus and more. We discussed ideas surrounding what's trending in society and what's trending with us individually—as well—the understanding that Trends fade away and change—but Jesus is from everlasting-to-everlasting. The same, yesterday, today and forever more. 

Looking ahead: For November, we'll start a new series on: Gratitude, as well as decorate the NY area and other rooms in the downstairs area. A time of fun and festivities.



WORSHIP & PRODUCTION TEAM
Leader: Mel Neely, [email protected]
We are a diverse community of followers of Jesus Christ, empowered by His Spirit with one heart and one mind to invite and lead in declaring His worth.

SEPTEMBER: 
The Neighborhood Church Worship & Production team continues to lift high the name of Jesus through our in person and online services. This month Mel Neely, Tim Allen and Adaora led worship during our Sunday services along with our dedicated team of instrumentalists and vocalists.

On Thursday evenings the team engaged with devotionals encouraging each other to look full on the wonderful face of Jesus by incorporating devotional times led by Adaora and Mel. We shared praises and prayer requests, praying for each other and over Neighborhood Church.

Evan, Donna, Richard, Eric and Mel represented the Worship Team at the Derwood Market on Saturday, September 6! It was a beautiful opportunity to flood the property with the sound of praise from 9 am to 1 pm!

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD ! Praise the LORD !
Psalm 150: 4-6

We are thankful to have a truly multigenerational team with middle school, high school and adult volunteers working together to make our Sunday services in person and online possible. We are praying for God to bring more workers to serve Him at Neighborhood Church!

OCTOBER: 
The Neighborhood Church Worship & Production team continues to lift high the name of Jesus through our in person and online services. This month Mel Neely and Adaora led worship during our Sunday services along with our dedicated team of instrumentalists and vocalists.

On Thursday evenings the team engaged with devotionals encouraging each other to look full on the wonderful face of Jesus by incorporating devotional times led by Eric and Mel on our Masterpiece series. We shared praises and prayer requests, praying for each other and over Neighborhood Church.

Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD ! Praise the LORD !
Psalm 150: 4-6

We are thankful to have a truly multigenerational team with middle school, high school and adult volunteers working together to make our Sunday services in person and online possible. On October 5 The Worship Production Team met to enjoy lunch together and to discuss updates, team communication and recruiting. We are praying for God to bring more workers to serve Him at Neighborhood Church!

BECAUSE of God’s faithfulness, our Worship & Production Team is living on mission as a multi- ethnic, multigenerational team being transformed by Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit and inviting the Neighborhood Church family to be launched on mission with them!



NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
Leader: Pam Homan, Matt Sale & Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
A place for making friends, inviting God's transformation through Scripture and prayer, and being launched on mission together.  

SEPTEMBER:
The fall semester of Neighborhood Groups started during the month of September. During the fall Neighborhood Group semester, all groups are studying the same material. The study is called Masterpiece, based on Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." During the first three weeks of this study we looked at what it means to be a disciple with our heart, head, and hands.

The rest of the study we will explore (both on Sundays during the service and in Neighborhood Groups) the unique you & how you can live this out within all areas of your life. All groups are going through the book, "What You Do Best," which walks you through three areas of self-discovery: spiritual gifts, relational style & personal passions. 

We have seven groups (both in person and online) meeting this semester. Several groups are still accepting participants so please see the menu on the website to sign up if you haven't already. 

OCTOBER:
The fall semester of Neighborhood Groups continued to meet during the month of October as we continued the church-wide study on "Masterpiece". We delved deeper into our spiritual gifts, and shared with one another our relational style and passions. Remember to record and share the results of your spiritual gifts assessment with the church staff using the following link: https://forms.gle/vwVy6fY8uum4pge27

This session of Neighborhood Groups will continue through mid-November. A new semester of group offerings will begin in January 2026. 



MISSIONS TEAM
Leader: Natalie, [email protected]
To see the people of Neighborhood Church launched on mission to share and show Jesus from our neighbors to the nations. (Acts 1:8)

- Preparing for season 8 of the Market to wrap up!
- Connected with Aaron for Global Encounters!
- Looking ahead to a trip next summer to El Salvador!

If you would like to be a part of the team, reach out to Natalie. Our hope and prayer is that all of Neighborhood Church would pray, give, go, send.



WELCOME TEAM
Leader:  Contact Rose Ojwiga, [email protected]
We will be a community that is authentic, transparent & creates space for real relationships (Acts 2:42)

SEPTEMBER:
Thank God for using the Welcome Team to serve. In September, we have been blessed with visitors. Thank God for all the church members who turned up.

OCTOBER:
Thank you God for everyone who made it to fellowship with Neighborhood Church. To all our visitors, we are grateful for you and pray you felt welcomed & connected in Jesus name.

LEADERSHIP

STAFF
Mark Trinkl, Tim Allen, Linnea Allen, Melanie Neely, Karin Sauder, Natalie & Dana Zetterberg, Eric Peacock.
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
The staff manages Neighborhood Church’s ministry teams. 

The staff has been enjoying the fall together. We welcomed Eric on to the staff and blessed Devin into his next season of life and ministry at the end of October. We are in conversation about how to better communicate who we are as a church, how we can help people grow in their faith and are also looking at the next one-year and five-year goals. We are excited to see God at work and are praying for wisdom and direction together. God is on the move and we want to stay in step with His Spirit.



ELDERS
Mark Trinkl, Steve Beardsley, Mark Neely, Solomon Jack, Eric Peacock, Jeff Geraci, Tedd Mueller, Eric Zetterberg, Kyle Ott
Leader: Mark Trinkl, [email protected]
The Elders shepherd and give spiritual oversight to Neighborhood Church.

We are so grateful to be able to shepherd this congregation. If there is anything you ever need prayer for, please let us know. We are here to support you. Please also pray as we look towards next year and serving the congregation.



BOARD OF GOVERNANCE
Mark Trinkl (Chair),Eric Peacock(Vice Chair), Matt Sale (Treasurer), Sarah Luse (Secretary), Angela Drumm, Solomon Jack, Jeff Geraci.
The Board of Governance (BOG) sets boundaries for the Pastor.

The Board met for the regular quarterly meeting on September 8th. Most of the conversation was about Pastor Mark’s potential transition. Since Pastor Mark was not voted in and is continuing on at Neighborhood, many of the conversations were no longer needed. The Board then met again on October 20th to discuss Pastor Mark’s annual review and begin to look toward what God has for the next 1-5 years at Neighborhood Church. Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom as we look towards next year and the election of the Board for 2026.